Project LEAD (Leadership Effectiveness and Diversity) is a United Way of King County leadership program which aims to increase the representation of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) on nonprofit boards and in other positions of community leadership in King County.

If you prefer to view the information on this program page through a PDF, please access it here: Project LEAD 2025 Information.   

Project LEAD sessions are conducted on weekday Wednesdays and all-day Saturdays during March 2025. Please review the dates carefully in determining whether to apply, as participants will be required to attend ALL workshop sessions. See the program schedule below: 

COVID-19 Precautions 

All events for this program will be held in-person. The program sessions will occur at Hines on 925 Fourth Avenue, Seattle, WA 98104 . The location for the Graduation and Agency Fair has yet to be determined.
*Information regarding COVID-19 precautions will be updated once more information from the host site for the program is confirmed. If you have any questions, please reach out to our staff.

Program Criteria 

Due to the critical community need for representation of BIPOC individuals at the board level, Project LEAD is open only to those who identify as BIPOC. In addition, applicants will be selected based on the following criteria: 

1) Previous volunteer service at a significant personal or community level. 

2) Experience and success working as part of a team - at work, in the community, etc. 

3) Commitment to the program and its expectations. 

4) Demonstrated readiness for the legal and fiduciary responsibilities required for board service (please review the linked document “Are You Ready to be a Board Member?"). 

Participants are expected to: 

1) Attend and actively participate in ALL program sessions. 

2) Honor the program expectation to serve on a board and/or committee of your choice following the completion of the workshop series. 

3) As part of your commitment to Project LEAD, you will fundraise $200 for United Way of King County as part of the learning experience.  

Please note: Project LEAD provides assessment tools and information to assist you in connecting to organizations that match your interests. The ultimate decision of which board or committee you join is a mutual one between you and the organization. 

Application Deadline and Selection Process 

Completed applications are due December 3rd, 2024. Applications are completed online at Project LEAD 2025. If you do not have a SurveyMonkey account, you must create one in order to submit an application.

To ensure program excellence and a positive experience for all involved, participants are selected through a competitive screening process. Up to 45 individuals will be selected to participate in the program and a representative of Project LEAD will contact qualified applicants for a brief phone interview following the application deadline. 

If you are not Black, Indigenous, or a Person of Color, but would like information on other board training opportunities, please visit https://www.501commons.org/resources/training-and-networking-events. 

Project LEAD Workshop Information (Please save this information for future reference) 

Class Selection 

Applications are reviewed based on the criteria noted. The selection process is extremely competitive and typically some applicants are accepted and placed on a one-year waiting list. Please review the class dates carefully to ensure that you are available to participate in ALL sessions. 

Fees 

There is a $200 fee to cover the cost of program materials. Do not send payment with the application. The fee is due once you are accepted into the program. A limited number of partial scholarships are available. Information on accessing scholarships will be sent following your acceptance. 

Attendance 

The commitment required to participate in Project LEAD is small compared to the commitment of time and money involved in serving on a board. Please confirm that you can attend all class dates listed. To ensure a consistent learning experience for all participants, attendance at ALL workshops is mandatory. Please clear any exceptions through the Project LEAD office. Due to the amount of information covered during each session, it is of the utmost importance that participants arrive prepared, on time, and remain for the entire session. 

Refreshments 

Morning refreshments are available on Saturdays starting at 8:00 a.m. The training on those days will start at 8:30 a.m. Lunch is also included on Saturdays. Weekday evening sessions include refreshments starting at 5:30 p.m. The evening trainings will start at 6:00 p.m.

To download a copy of the information on this program page and/or to apply on a physical document, please access it here: Project LEAD 2025 Information and Application.   
If you have any questions, please email projectlead@uwkc.org.